South-east Asia

Fuel crunch driven by Iran war boosts China’s electric two-wheeler exports to South-east Asia

This underscores how regional energy vulnerabilities are accelerating the transition to electric mobility

A motorist at a gas station in Mandaluyong, the Philippines. The country's dependence on energy imports from the Middle East has been exposed by the Iran conflict.

Risks are ‘clearly to the downside’ for Asia after a strong start to the year: IMF Asia-Pacific director

The region relies heavily on energy imports from the Middle East, which have been affected by the Iran conflict

In Singapore, government agencies have been directed to manage the operating times of ACs, lighting and elevators.

South-east Asia office workers swelter in energy-saving drive, heatwave

Many countries have imposed temperature controls at government workplaces since the war began, among other measures to conserve energy

Singapore continues to account for the bulk of PE deals in South-east Asia, says consultancy Bain.

Exit concerns persist as South-east Asia PE investors prioritise strong management teams: Bain

Macroeconomic softness is cited as the key reason for the challenging exit environment, says the consultancy

A detail of Ahmad Zakii Anwar's painting of bananas in "Passion Is Volcanic: Desire In Southeast Asian Art".
ARTS

National Gallery Singapore: Sex and desire in South-east Asian art

The museum’s new exhibition is the first to be rated R(18)

Asean's green transition and broader economic future depend on the region's ability to ensure supply chain integrity.

Why Asean needs to pay more attention to supply chain integrity

Illicit trade has implications for sustainability and beyond

Leaders at the fifth Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Summit in Kuala Lumpur last October. The 10 Asean states, along with Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea, are signatories to the trade pact.
NEW GLOBAL ORDER

Strengthening Asean’s economic resilience through RCEP’s 2027 review

Practical reforms will make South-east Asia’s biggest trade pact more effective and beneficial

The tokenisation of a real-world asset such as gold increases its accessibility by enabling fractional ownership and use in decentralised finance.

OCBC and partners launch South-east Asia’s first on-chain tokenised physical gold fund 

Institutional and corporate accredited investors can subscribe to the token using stablecoins or fiat currencies 

With the Philippines importing more than 90% of its oil supply from the Middle East, it is exposed to supply chain disruptions and currency fluctuations. 

Will the Philippines hit the brakes on a deregulated oil industry amid fuel pain?

With domestic pump prices continuing to rise, calls for state intervention are growing

Founded in Curitiba in the early 2010s, Ebanx reached ‘unicorn’ status in 2019 – a label for startups valued at more than US$1 billion.

Brazilian payments unicorn Ebanx makes South-east Asia push

Investments for this year’s expansion will be financed by the firm’s cash on hand